Jimi Hendrix

(aaronsmithmusic.com)

Jimi Hendrix said “Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you’ll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you’re gonna be rewarded. Jimi Hendrix is arguably one of the most innovative electric guitarists of all time. Johnny Allen Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, Seattle, Washington. Hendrix used many different styles to come up with his unique musical voice. One of his most memorable performances was at Woodstock 1969 when he played his distorted electric guitar versions of the Star Spangled Banner. He passed away September 18, 1970, in London England. A hero must possess passion and dedication. Jimi Hendrix had both of these traits because while growing up, he was very poor. Still he was able to learn music by using a ukulele and a broom he strummed in imitation. He didn’t get his first electric guitar until age 17 and went to friend’s houses who owned amplifiers to play.

Even though Jimi Hendrix grew to become a successful musical artist, his childhood was full of hardships. Hendrix’s mom was only 17 when she gave birth to him and was already having a fiery relationship with his father, Al Hendrix (biography.com). Jimi’s youth was scarred by poverty and personal tragedies. Jimi was a shy and secluded boy. When Jimi was only 15 his mom passed away due to a ruptured spleen. For a time he was being moved from relative to relative, or anyone who would take him in. Three of his five siblings were moved into custody due to physical and mental defects. On May 1st 1961, Hendrix joined the army, in Fort Hood, California. Even though he was in the army all of his free time was spent with his guitar (biography.com). From the beginning, he had an instant dislike of the army. After serving only one year, he received a medical discharge due to a broken ankle during his 26th parachute jump (David Wilma).

(sodahead.com)

Musically, Jimi Hendrix did much to further the development of the electric guitar’s collection, establishing it as his own distinctive sound. Jimi Hendrix never knew how to read lyrics. As of 2005 he was classified as a musical genius. “His pioneering use of effects like phasing, wah wah and fuzz tone have become part of the rock guitarists’ vocabulary” (Rolling Stone, Hopkins.) Hendrix got past his disadvantages of being left-handed (because there weren’t many lefty guitars) by flipping the right-handed guitar over and restringing it. Hendrix used many different musical styles to create his own one of its kind sound (Blecha to Crowley, David Wilma). Hendrix's guitar style also had a significant influence upon future ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons and fellow Texas guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. Hendrix made a lasting impact on electric guitar use, and many people have tried to imitate him. Jimi Hendrix inspired many people to play guitar with new electric guitar distortions that he helped pioneer. "He acquired his first acoustic guitar for $5 from an acquaintance of his father. This guitar replaced both the broomstick he had been strumming in imitation, and a ukulele which his father had found while cleaning a garage (David Wilma)". Jimi Hendrix is inspiring to me and many other people for going from poverty to one of the best guitar players in the world due to hard work and dedication, and of course, his passion for guitar.

Hendrix possessed his own distinctive style for what he did. He never could read music but he learned to play the guitar, and rise to be one of the best in the world. He could play with his teeth or behind his back. Even though he endured many struggles throughout his life for him to become a great guitarist is inspiring to me. What Jimi Hendrix did made him a hero to me and has motivated me and many other people to pick up the guitar.